The Bert Show – Vault: She Took A Big Risk To Meet Her Online Date
Air Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Bert Show Cast (Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, et al.)
Episode Theme:
A follow-up with listener “Kelly,” who recently traveled to another city to meet an online date shortly after being widowed, sparking concern among both the show hosts and listeners about her safety and emotional readiness.
Episode Overview
In this poignant and candid segment, the Bert Show reconnects with Kelly, a recent widow who risked visiting a man she met online in a different city. The hosts discuss their initial concerns for her safety after losing contact, unpack the outcome of her trip, and delve into the complex feelings around dating after loss. The conversation is warm, gently humorous, and full of honest reflection – both from Kelly and the caring hosts.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Safety Concerns Around Online Dating
- Background:
- On the prior Thursday, Kelly called in to say she was heading to another city to meet a man from an online dating site.
- She had only given the show a single phone number, hadn’t shared the trip details with family or close friends, making the hosts and listeners anxious for her safety.
- Host 1: “We really didn't feel like she left herself a lot of safety net ... We only had one phone number for her and we were really concerned.” (01:55–02:23)
2. Kelly’s Vulnerability and Emotional Readiness
- Personal Context:
- Kelly had lost her husband eight months ago and was hesitant to share her new dating adventure with her circle for fear of judgment.
- Host 2 emphasizes: “Kelly was a little bit more vulnerable than the average online dater because she had just recently lost her husband ... so therefore wasn’t really telling anybody ... because she thought they would judge her for moving on too quickly.” (02:23–02:40)
3. Kelly’s Experience: The Trip Recap
- No Contact:
- Kelly had no cellphone service most of the time, adding to the hosts’ concerns.
- Kelly: “Absolutely no cell phone service whatsoever up there.” (02:53)
- The Actual Meet-Up:
- The guy was “nice” and nothing alarming happened, but Kelly felt uncomfortable and realized she was not ready for such a step.
- Kelly: “It just wasn’t exactly what I expected, and I wasn’t really ready for it, so I was glad to come home.” (03:12–03:24)
- Constant Vigilance:
- The previous conversation with the show left Kelly nervous, never letting her guard down during the weekend. (03:28–03:40)
- “I do think it was just still a little too soon ... after talking with y’all on Thursday, I was nervous the whole weekend, so I never exactly let my guard down.” (Kelly, 03:28–03:40)
4. Expectations vs. Reality
- Mismatch:
- The man seemed to expect a deeper romantic connection than Kelly intended.
- Host 1: “So you were going there more as a friendship, and he was going there thinking it was going to be something a little more.” (03:49–03:54)
- Kelly: “Yes.” (03:54)
5. Reflections, Growth, and The Grieving Process
- Emotional Realization:
- “I think it was more fun talking and thinking of the idea of doing it than it actually was doing it.” (Kelly, 04:25–04:35)
- Kelly recognizes her journey through grief is ongoing and she needs more time before dating.
- Host 1: “Everybody heals differently ... eventually you gotta, I guess, at least try to jumpstart something. And for you, that was seven or eight months.” (04:36–04:56)
- Kelly: “But it’ll be a while now ... Yes.” (04:56–05:01)
6. The Importance of Caution and Community Support
- Learning from Experience:
- Kelly appreciates the show and listeners’ concern, saying their warnings made her more cautious.
- Kelly: “All the comments from Thursday ... made me actually think about what I was doing and be a little more cautious while I was there.” (05:02–05:13)
- Host 2: “I think next time you need to be a lot more cautious, not just a little bit more cautious, because you lucked out that nothing bad happened.” (05:13–05:22)
- Kelly: (Concluded) “I don’t think there’ll be a next time. I think the online dating out-of-state thing is over for me now. ... It was a little too strange being up there with no service, no car, in the middle of a small town where everything closes at 5:00.” (05:31–05:38)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Host 2 (lighthearted): “Don’t you ever leave again without giving us a phone call, young lady. You had us worried sick all night.” (03:59–04:03)
- Host 1: “We’re not mad. We’re just disappointed.” (04:05–04:08)
- Kelly: “I'm sorry I had everybody worried ...” (06:01–06:04)
- Host 1 (joking): “Just don’t do that again, young lady. All right? You go to your room and you think about what you’ve done. You’re grounded.” (06:05–06:12)
Key Segment Timestamps
- 01:55–02:23 – Explaining initial concerns for Kelly’s safety and lack of a “safety net”
- 02:40–03:12 – Kelly rejoins the show and explains where she’s been
- 03:12–03:24 – Kelly recaps her trip and why she was happy to return
- 03:28–03:40 – The influence of the show’s warnings on her actions
- 03:49–03:54 – Realization of mismatched expectations with the online date
- 04:25–04:35 – Emotional insight: “It was more fun talking and thinking of the idea ...”
- 05:13–05:22 – Hosts stress stronger caution for future situations
- 05:31–05:38 – Kelly decides to stop online dating out of state
Tone & Atmosphere
The tone is affectionate and protective, with supportive but candid advice. The hosts alternate between parental concern, gentle ribbing, and empathy, making for a warm, relatable, and at times, humorous exchange. Kelly is honest and grateful for the community’s support, and the conversation turns reflective about grief and readiness for new relationships.
Summary:
This Bert Show segment offers a heartfelt follow-up on Kelly, whose risky leap into online dating after loss sparks a thoughtful discussion on safety, healing, and the courage to connect (or step back) after grief. The conversation balances real concern with humor and sensitivity, providing comfort and wisdom to listeners navigating similar waters.